Canadiens rout Sabres 5-1

Montreal didn’t just answer Buffalo in Game 2 — it flattened the game early and never really let the Sabres breathe. The Canadiens won 5-1 on Friday night, tying this second-round series at 1-1 and flipping the mood before the scene shifts to Montreal. That matters because Game 1 felt like Buffalo dictating terms. Game 2 looked like Montreal fixing the exact things that broke. ### Who actually drove this win? Alex Newhook was the headline. He scored twice, once 1:36 into the first period and again in the second, and both goals mattered because they gave Montreal the kind of secondary scoring playoff series usually swing on. Mike Matheson added another in the first, Alexandre Carrier scored in the third, and Nick Suzuki finished it with an empty-netter. This was not a one-line rescue job — it was Montreal getting production from multiple places. ### Why did the game feel over so fast? Because Montreal got on top of Buffalo immediately. Newhook scored less than two minutes in, Matheson made it 2-0 before the first period was five minutes old, and Buffalo spent the rest of the night chasing. In the playoffs, that kind of start changes everything — line matching, crowd energy, shot selection, all of it. The Sabres still threw hits and generated chances, but the game state belonged to Montreal almost from the opening shift. (nhl.com) ### What changed from Game 1? The Canadiens got cleaner in their own end and steadier in net. Jakub Dobes stopped 28 of 29 shots, which gave Montreal the calm it needed after Buffalo opened the series with a win. Buffalo actually finished with slightly more shots, but Montreal was better at turning its chances into real damage and better at protecting the middle once it had the lead. (nhl.com) Basically, the Canadiens looked more organized and less reactive. ### Did Buffalo play badly? Not exactly — but the Sabres played from behind all night, and that’s a miserable way to live in the postseason. Zach Benson got Buffalo on the board late in the second period to cut it to 3-1, which could have made the third interesting. Instead, Carrier scored for Montreal less than four minutes into the third and killed that push. Buffalo hit more, but the Sabres never turned that physical edge into scoreboard pressure. (espn.com) ### Why is Newhook such a big deal here? Because playoff teams can’t survive on stars alone. If Buffalo can key on Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Montreal’s top threats, someone else has to punish that attention. Newhook did exactly that. Two goals from a depth scorer changes how the other team has to defend the next game — a bit like plugging one leak and finding out there are three more. (espn.com) ### What does 1-1 really mean now? It means the series is basically reset, but not emotionally neutral. Montreal took back momentum and reclaimed home ice by getting the split in Buffalo. Game 3 is set for Sunday night in Montreal, and now the pressure shifts. The Sabres no longer have the comfort of a clean early edge, and the Canadiens get to bring this version of the series home. (nhl.com) ### So what’s the bottom line? Game 2 wasn’t just a bounce-back. It was Montreal showing the shape of a winning formula — fast start, secondary scoring, solid goaltending, then a clampdown once ahead. Buffalo still has plenty in this series, but the easy version of it is gone now. (nhl.com)